Chapter 9 — A Retreat Called Love

Want to lure me there. Then use some method to force me to give in. But the phrase "father-in-law's death" made me unable to completely ignore it. What if there really is a secret?

“If you come…”

“I will tell you everything…”

“I don't want to take the secret to my grave…”

Her voice became weaker and weaker. In the end, only intermittent gasps remained. Then the call was disconnected. I looked at the dark phone screen. In turmoil. Or not go? Right at that moment. Lam Man's phone call came. As soon as the call is connected. I immediately heard the panic and anger in her voice. An emotion that I have never felt before.

“Love Love!”

“Something happened!”

“I went to your house and found it had been cleaned out!”

My mind immediately buzzed.

“What does clean up mean?”

“It's a real cleanup!”

Lam Man almost shouted.

“I used the spare key to open the door.”

“In the house, besides a few large pieces of furniture, there is nothing left!”

“Your clothes.”

“Your belongings.”

“That jewelry box, too.”

“It's all gone!”

Her voice trembled with anger.

“I just asked the neighbor.”

"They said this morning they saw Chu Nghi with his mother calling for a moving car."

“They took all the stuff away!”

My hands trembled violently. The phone almost fell out of my hand. Don't just carry things. They even took the jewelry box. Inside are all my papers. It's the last money I keep for myself. Too cruel. They want to cut off all my escape routes. Don't leave me any chance.

“Call the police!”

“Man Man, call the police immediately!”

I almost screamed.

“I told you!”

“The police are coming!”

Lam Man immediately responded.

“Tinh Tinh, don't panic!”

“This is an act of intentional dispersal of assets!”

“It's against the law!”

“Don't be afraid!”

How can I not be afraid? I lie here with a broken leg. No money. No identification documents. Even the identification card was taken away. And they swept away everything that belonged to me and disappeared. Right in that moment. I suddenly understood. Ly Tu Lan's phone call just now. From beginning to end, there was no suffering or humiliation. It's a smokescreen. She pretended to be sick. Pretending to be dying. Call me. The sole purpose is to keep me. Create time for Chu Nghi to clean the house. She calculated very accurately. I know I will waver when I hear about my father-in-law. If you know I can ask Lam Man to go to the hospital to verify. That's why. They just had enough time to clean everything up. One step after another. Each step is carefully calculated. Don't reveal any loopholes. I felt cold all over my body. The cold spread from the soles of my feet to the top of my head. Only now did I realize it. This is no longer simply a family conflict. This is an illegal act.

“Love Love?”

“Do you still hear me?”

Lam Man's voice pulled me out of that bone-chilling cold.

“It's me.”

My voice was as dry as sandpaper.

"Man Man, first you cooperate with the police to take a statement. Tell them that in your jewelry box there is a gold bracelet left by your grandmother, worth more than fifty thousand yuan."

"That's enough conditions to file a case."

"Okay! I know!"

After hanging up, I forced myself to calm down. At this time, neither anger nor fear can solve anything. I must act. I rang the bell to call the nurse at the bedside. Not long after, a nurse walked in.

“Hello, do you need any help?”

“Nurse, could you please help me check to see if the Cardiology Department, room 302 of the Central Hospital, has a patient named Ly Tu Lan?”

The nurse went to the computer and looked it up for a moment then shook her head.

"No. The Cardiology Department has no new patients with that name admitted to the hospital today."

Of course it is. It's all a lie. The last bit of hope in my heart completely disappeared. The mother and son had completely torn off the mask, not intending to leave me any way to live. If that's the case, don't blame me for being cruel. I took out my phone and looked for a number I hadn't heard from for a long time. That's my college classmate, Cao Zhiyuan. Currently he is a very good private detective. As soon as the phone was connected, I was not polite and went straight to the point.

"Cao Chi Vien, it's me, To Tinh. I need your help with something."

"Help me find two people. Chu Nghi and his mother, Ly Tu Lan."

"Also help me investigate one more thing. The traffic accident of my father-in-law, Chu Kien Quoc, two years ago."

Cao Chi Vien did not ask why. Just answer one question:

“Okay, wait for me.”

That's why I looked for him. Professional, efficient, no fuss.